Our Family Fun Picks in August for St. Louis Families

School may be back in session this month, but there's still plenty of time left to make end-of-summer memories with your kids. Here are our picks for the best family events in St. Louis in August:

1. Art Hill Film Series & Food Truck Fest at the Saint Louis Art Museum: The NeverEnding Story (August 3)

The final installment of this free outdoor movie series inspired by the remarkable story behind the Sunken Cities: Egypt's Lost Worlds exhibit features the 1994 adventure The NeverEnding Story. The films in this series follow the search for something vital - whether it be truth, treasure or justice. The fun and festivities begin at 6 p.m., with a Food Truck Fest presented by Sauce Magazine.  The Art Museum's cafe will be open until 8:45, and guests are also welcome to bring their own picnic basket, lawn chairs and blankets. Space is available on a first-come, first-served basis. There will be a "blankets only" section at the front of the viewing area. The movies begins at 9 p.m. In case of inclement weather, check the museum's Facebook page or Twitter feed for updates about cancellations.

The Art Hill Film Series & Food Truck Fest featuring The NeverEnding Story takes place on Friday, August 3 beginning at 6 p.m. on Art Hill in Forest Park. For more information, visit slam.org/filmseries.

2. Summer Buggin' Nights at the Butterfly House (Fridays in August)

Visit The Butterfly House after hours every Friday in August for family-friendly nature walks, games and fun activities for all ages. Food and refreshments will be available from Sugarfire Smokehouse and Noodles & Company. There will also be special VIP guests, music and more. Summer Buggin' activities are included with general admission, which is free for members of the Missouri Botanical Garden, or $8 for adults, $5 for children and seniors. Children two and under are free. Registration not required. 

Summer Buggin' takes place from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday evenings in August at The Butterfly House in Faust Park, located at 15193 Olive Blvd. in Chesterfield. For more information, visit butterflyhouse.org.

3. Squirmy, Slimy, Scaly, Slithery Creatures Kids Love at The Magic House (August 11)

Kids will have a wild time when The Magic House plays host to creatures big and small, from a 100-pound tortoise to a not-so-tiny tarantula! Squirmy, Slimy, Scaly, Slithery Creatures Kids Love will feature creatures from the The Butterfly House, The Wildlife Command Center and the World Bird Sanctuary. Visitors can get up close and personal with a variety of reptiles, arthropods and birds of prey and learn more about these extraordinary creatures. Visitors will also have the opportunity to enjoy a thrilling presentation by Serengeti Steve, featuring some of his favorite critters and loads of audience participation. Free with Magic House admission.

Squirmy, Slimy, Scaly, Slithery Creatures Kids Love takes place on Saturday, August 11 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at The Magic House, located at 516 S. Kirkwood Road in Kirkwood. For more information, visit magichouse.org.

4. Family Day at Rockwoods Reservation (August 11)

Bring your family to Rockwoods Reservation to participate in unique nature activities and discover Missouri's amazing native wildlife. Families will have the chance to meet live animals, go on a short hike, catch aquatic creatures, and more.

Some snacks will be provided, but participants are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch if they'd like. Please bring reusable water bottles, wear sunscreen, insect repellent and possibly a change of shoes, or water shoes for the aquatic activity. The event is free, but registration is required. All ages are welcome.

Family Day takes place on Saturday, August 11 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Rockwoods Reservation, located at 2751 Glencoe Road in Wildwood. For more information and to register, visit mdc.mo.gov.

5. Family Workshops – Sunken Cities: Egypt's Lost Worlds at Saint Louis Art Museum (August 11 & 25)

The Saint Louis Art Museum is offering family workshops for children ages six and up and their adult companions that includes admission to the Sunken Cities: Egypt's Lost Worlds exhibit. In "All Things Osiris" on Saturday, August 11, kids can dive deep into Osiris, the Egyptian god of the underworld. Take an interactive guided tour of Sunken Cities: Egypt’s Lost Worlds to discover the mysteries of Osiris as you examine objects from cities that disappeared over a thousand years ago. Following the tour, sculpt your own Osiris offering complete with a wooden sarcophagus in one of the Museum’s classrooms.

In "Divine Mashup" on Saturday, August 25, kids will uncover a mashup of gods and goddesses from both ancient Egypt and Greece. Take an interactive guided tour of Sunken Cities to reveal the unique ancient cities that brought Egyptian and Greek culture together. Following the tour, construct your own hybrid god or goddess portrait in one of the Museum’s classrooms inspired by those you meet in the galleries. Tickets to each are $25 for Adult, $15 Child (includes Sunken Cities: Egypt’s Lost Worlds exhibition ticket) or $10 for Adult/Child Members. 

Sunken Cities family workshops take place from 10:30 am to noon on Saturday, August 11 and Saturday, August 25 at the Saint Louis Art Museum in Forest Park. For more information and to reserve tickets, visit slam.org.

6. Free Family Fun Day at the Ballpark in Chesterfield (August 11)

The 2018 Chesterfield Family Fun Day at the Ballpark will feature tons of games, sports, safety activities, big trucks, local heroes, local vendors and lots of free fun for all ages. The Monarch Fire Department and Chesterfield Police Department will host a Safety Zone with interactive safety demonstrations, including learning how firefighters put out fires, learning CPR, and taking a ride in the fire truck bucket. Other emergency vehicles will also be on hand for kids to explore, including a helicopter and ambulance. Families can participate in games like knockerball, wiffleball, kickball and more, and there will also be crafts for kids and vendor booths with safety themed activities. 

Family Fun Day at the Ballpark in Chesterfield takes place on Saturday, August 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Chesterfield Valley Athletic Complex. The event is free, open to all and designed for all ages. No reservations are required. Find more information at chesterfield.mo.us

7. Free Family Day at Laumeier Sculpture Park (August 12)

Laumeier Sculpture Park's Free Family Days provide families with a chance to bond while encouraging observation, imagination, curiosity and creativity. Visitors of all ages participate in structured activities for creating art using a variety of materials to create artwork based on personal experience. Activities are designed to be simple enough for ages four and up to enjoy, yet complex enough that more experienced young artists can take their projects to another level. Families explore new media and concepts together and find inspiration in Laumeier's artworks and the natural environment. The event is free and open to all ages.

Free Family Day takes place on Sunday, August 12 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Laumeier Sculpture Park, located at 12580 Rott Road in Sunset Hills. For more information, visit laumeier.org.

8. Pet-A-Palooza at Purina Farms( August 26)

Familes, pet owners, adults and kids alike will have a blast at Purina Farms Pet-A-Palooza, a celebration of pets and their families. In addition to being one of the biggest pet adoption days in the area (including dogs, cats, rabbits and more), Pet-A-Palooza will feature grooming areas for pets, a kids area with inflatables and games, a pet photo booth, food, live music and a showcase of some of the latest pet gear and accessories. Families will also enjoy the Incredible Dog Challenge, the Barn and Play Area, and Pro Plan Performance Team Dog Shows, which take place at the Incredible Dog Arena. Attendees are welcome to bring their dogs, which must be non-aggressive, on a leash and be current on their shots. Admission is free.

Pet-A-Palooza takes place on Sunday, August 26 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Purina Farms, located at 500 William Danforth Way in Gray Summit. For more information, visit our detailed event listing.

For even more family fun, take a look at our Things To Do calendar and subscribe to our Things To Do email newsletter!

_{Photos: The Magic House}